Richland Two and Richland Library announce partnership
September 5, 2015
COLUMBIA, SC – Richland School District Two and Richland Library are teaming up to provide a state of the art library, multimedia center and community space as part of the district’s new student academic center, the Richland Two Institute of Innovation (R2i2). Additionally, the district and county are working to ensure every enrolled student receives a library card through the ConnectED Library Challenge.
“This partnership is a perfect example of how two community agencies with similar missions can work together to provide exceptional services,” said Richland Two Board of Trustees Chair James Manning. “We feel the district and library are a perfect match and see this partnership as a way to become stronger, save taxpayers money and help the betterment of our community.”
Located along Fashion Drive near the Village at Sandhill, R2i2 will open to high school students across the district in 2016. R2i2 will focus on preparing students for the workplace, certification programs and/or higher education in order to meet workforce needs in the Midlands and throughout the state. Through R2i2 the district will continue to work with regional business partners and colleges and universities to provide learning opportunities that are dynamic and constantly evolving to follow industry trends and market changes. The R2i2 facility will open in 2016 and the adjoining 30,000-square-foot Sandhills Library will open in 2017, which will include a 250 seat auditorium.
Richland Two and Richland Library are also distributing 28,000 library cards throughout September as part of the ConnectED Library Challenge. ConnectED is a White House initiative focused on transforming teaching and learning through programming that develops language, reading and critical thinking; provides digital resources, broadband connectivity and wireless access within library facilities; and forgives any previous fines students may have accrued.
Richland Two, Richland County Council, Richland Library and Midlands Technical College leaders celebrate the announcement of the new Sandhills Library, which will be housed within the district’s Richland Two Institute of Innovation (R2i2).
Richland County Councilman Jim Manning, Midlands Technical College President Dr. Ronald Rhames, Richland Library Director Melanie Huggins, Richland Two Board Chair James Manning, Richland Two Superintendent Dr. Debbie Hamm and Cheryl English Richland Library Board Member.
